As The Rocky Horror Show reaches its half century, with a UK tour in 2023, we’re pleased to publish this interview with its creator Richard O’Brien. What was your inspiration behind The Rocky Horror Show? Someone asked me to entertain the Christmas staff party at the EMI Film Studios and so I wrote a song … Continue reading
Category Archives: Writing
“Tomorrow they’ll hang the man they say killed my sister”
My old friend Chris Marshall [not as old as me] has written his first novel – a pirate adventure aimed at young adults. Shadow of a Pirate, written under his pen name Kit Swift, has received great reviews and was even shortlisted for the Firefly Fiction Competition Wales 2022. Not bad for a first attempt! … Continue reading
‘Beautiful’ – Q&A with Molly-Grace Cutler playing Carole King
Molly-Grace Cutler is touring the UK as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. In this interview she discusses her role and the show, as she prepares to open at Cardiff’s New Theatre tomorrow (Tuesday 24 May). Continue reading
Crucible of the Vampire – now hear the horror
British independent film company Ghost Dog Films, who have already branched into graphic novels and video games, have now produced a first ebook and audiobook. It’s based on Ghost Dog’s 2019 film Crucible of the Vampire, which also spawned the excellent graphic novel, which I featured previously. The story – set in a spooky old … Continue reading
Best gigs, playing on a no 1 hit, and those suits – catching up with Anthony Strong
I first came across super-talented jazz singer and pianist Anthony Strong at the 2013 Brecon Jazz Festival. I loved the performance, describing it as “as sharp as his suit”, and since then we’ve kept in touch on social media. If you’re not familiar with Anthony’s work, you can check his website here. But I wanted … Continue reading
Uncovering The Whole Truth at an Oxford gathering worthy of Christie
I normally publish a post about the latest brilliant crime thriller by my talented friend Cara Hunter when I’ve returned from the launch party. But these (I write this in Sepember 2021) are not normal times. The Whole Truth, the fifth in her remarkable Oxford-set DI Fawley series, was released without a launch in January, … Continue reading
Short films project finds success in competitions
A series of short screenplays, known as The Annalium Project (featured in this blog earlier this year), has been finding success in international competitions. The project’s creator (my pal) Robert Lancey had been hoping to have started filming the first film ‘Sssss’ by now, but the continuing COVID-19 pandemic has kept that on hold until … Continue reading
‘Visions of Beulah’ – short film explores reality and meaning
When artist Mari reveals to her PhD student boyfriend that she can hear his thoughts, he decides he must think in images to maintain balance. As he opens himself up to imagination and memory, his world loses its characteristic rationale. That’s the intriguing premise of the forthcoming short film by Thomas Riordan, Visions of Beulah. Continue reading
Inventive touches for a new video on the ‘Magic’ of love
The latest R&B video from my transatlantic friends and near-namesakes at True Weltch Media was recently released (or ‘dropped’ as I need to start saying). Magic is a romantic song, featuring a trio of New Jersey artists – two of whom I’ve featured before, Jo Rivers and Mytus, along with Raq, all from the city … Continue reading
Stormy Emotions – top-notch musicianship and vocals do justice to poetic lyrics
Talented British jazz vocalist Sarah Moule has a new album on the way – Stormy Emotions is an uplifting collection of songs written by her husband Simon Wallace and the late, great American poet and lyricist Fran Landesman. Sarah spent 18 years working with Simon and Fran, and with this album introduces 10 previously unrecorded … Continue reading